Advice needed: Snapped bolt

[tuscan]

Bugger, bugger, bugger...

I was doin a wee bit of home maintenance on my FXR150 and when I was putting the oil filter cover back in place I managed to snap one of the bolts in half with one half stuck inside the housing :no:

Anyway I need to get the bit of bolt out of there so I can get the oil filter cover to stay on properly. To make things more difficult the bolt was about maybe 8cm long with the thread only on the bottom half of it so the broken bit is stick 4 or 5 cm inside the housing... What do I do???? Will I need to get a mobile mechanic to sort it out and if so is there anyone people would recommend? Would it be very expensive?

I'm pretty gutted this has happened and I won't be able to ride until its fixed... :brick:

[StoneChucker]

I snapped off a bolt recently myself, but it was on a piece I could remove and sort out on a work bench... So, not sure if my advice is relevant but:

Can you fit a screw driver into the hole? If so, position the screw driver head so it makes contact with the embedded bolt, in an anti-clockwise direction. Gently (or roughly, whatever works) tap the screwdriver with a hammer. What your trying to do is slowly work the bolt loose. Hope you get what I'm saying. Otherwise you could try drilling it out. Start with a fine drill bit, and work progressively (slowly) bigger until the bolt is just about disintegrated...

That last idea is just that, never been tested by me so wait for more responses.

Dave.
*EDIT* Thanks to VTWIN for sorting out MY bolt problem

[XTC]

You say the bolt is 8cm long.... Does it double as a bolt that holds the clutch cover on? if you were to remove the clutch cover do you think it woul then expose the broken bolt?? Just an idea as an 8cm long bolt seems like overkill just for an oil filter bolt.

[Sensei]

Drill it then use a easy out Or tack a piece of rod onto it then unscrew it

[WINJA]

CAN YOU SHOW A PIC ?

[John]

Antallica had the same problem he will be able to tell what he said.

[Teflon]

I would use a EZ-out.

Make sure somone competent drills the hole. If you drill the hole off centre you could cut the thread.

Before you put the new bolt in, you could try a copper based anti-sieze compound, make sure it's heat resistant.

Good luck.

[nodrog]

yep e-z out is the way to go! just dont get the cheap shit ones from supercheap, snapped one off in my 351, and there are not many drillbits out there harder than an e-z out!!! went through about 6 masonary bits drilling the bastard thing out!!

[Teflon]

Also.

Make sure you catch all the swarf.

You don't want that shit in your engine.

[Antallica]

Sorry John, but this guy has actually snapped the bolt inside the housing. I actually had some sticking out that I could use a vice grip on.

But I feel for ya Tus, hope she's sorted soon.